Microsoft Studios announces 'Killer Instinct' trademark renewal

The trademark for Killer Instinct, developer Rare's fighting game series from the 90s, has been renewed by Microsoft Studios, PlayXBLA announced today.

The trademark for Killer Instinct, developer Rare's fighting game series from the 90s, has been renewed by Microsoft, announced Microsoft website PlayXBLA today.

"Our legal eagles have authorized us to say: 'We have either renewed or refiled a trademark application in various jurisdictions,'" reads the post.

Rare, purchased by Microsoft in 2002 for $375 million, is a first-party developer for the company and is currently creating games exclusively for the Xbox console.

The series was previously featured only in arcades and on Nintendo's consoles: the original Killer Instinct was published in arcades and on the Super Nintendo and GameBoy in 1995, while Killer Instinct 2 made it to arcades and onto the Nintendo 64 under the title Killer Instinct Gold,

Killer Instinct is centered around a fighting tournament organized by a futuristic government-controlling megacorporation. Its sequel transports players back in time to fight a similar series of tournament-like battles in order to protect the future. Combat utilizes classic one-on-one battles in which players must whittle down opponents' health bars with moves similar to those of Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat.